Mechanical toy



\ Sept. 1, 1931. c HUDSON 1,821,712

MECHANICAL TOY File d June 25, 1930 Patented Sept. 1, 1931 CHARLES E. HUDSON, F LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS MECHANICAL TOY Application filed June 25,

This invention relates to mechanical toys and particularly to that-type of toy operated by wind currents. Its object is to provide a novel toy operated by the direct impact of L; the wind, without driving mechanism of any kind, and containing, among others, the improvements hereafter described.

In the drawings of the embodiment of my invention described and illustrated herein,

if; Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the toy in normal position;

Fig. 2, a similar view with the toy in a difierent position under the influence of the wind; p

1& Fig. 3, a like view of the toy in the extreme position it assumes under the influence of the wind;

Fig. 4, a vertical section of the toy base; and

Fig. 5, a side elevation of a modified form of the toy.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, my novel toy is shown embodied, in this instance, in the figure of a squirrel 1, made of any suitable material as wood, metal, etc., and pivotally mounted at 2, upon the laterally turned end of a bent or oifset rod 3 as a support, to promote responsiveness of the toy to wind currents, so that the toy will always be as head to the wind. V

The counterweight in the form of a tail 4 is pivotallymounted upon the squirrels body for convenience in packing and shipping; this also permits of adjustment of the tail to change the center of gravity of the figure to compensate for the difference between a light and a strong wind. The tail is provided with a fin or vane 5 on one or both sides so that, under the influence of the wind, it will cause the animal to swing upwardly as in Fig. 2.

The rod 3, Figs. 2, i, at its lower straight end may be thrust into the ground or a post as a base or, may be received in an anchoring device with a socket 6 which may be lined or not, as by a thimble 7, in any convenient movable base 8, as a small block of any de-' sired shape. This base is drilled at 9 to receive the prongs 10 of a base positioning and supporting pin 11. The upper ends of the prongs 10 are connected by a curvilinear sec- 1930. seri lize. 463,654.

tion 12, Fig. 3, which'serves as a convenient means for" inserting the prongs 10 into-the ground and also for lifting the base 8 and withdrawing the. prongs from the ground. The prongs 10 are preferablyspread a little to cause them to frictionally engage closely the walls of the passage 9 and thus firmly lock'the base to the prongs V The toy figure, Fig. 1, is mounted upon the rod 3 just oif the center ofgravity with the 0 tail elevated, as shown, so that, when mounted in-"the ground or base, the squirrel will normally drop to the position shown.

Adjusted .as stated the squirrel normally will assume a crouching or walking position, Fig. 1, and will always face the wind and rock backward as the wind current, blowing toward the animal from the front, strikesthe tail. The squirrel will rise, Fig. 2, under a gentle breeze and will drop forwardly when 76 the wind current subsides.

Ifthe wind current is fairly strong, the

squirrel will rise tothe position shown in Fig. 3, to the limit permitted by the staple 13 on the member 1, dropping again naturallv when the wind subsides. This action will, of course, be kept up indefinitely with the action of the wind.

In Fig; 5. is illustrated a figure of a rabbit having its ears 14 mounted upon an angle 80 iron15 which is, in turn, pivotally secured to the neck of the rabbit so that the ears positioned asshown in full lines, act as a vane to catchthe wind current and thus cause the toy to rock as, already described and shown 7 in Fig. 5. When desired, as for packing and shipping, for instance, the ears may be turned aboutthe pivotal mounting to upper dotted line position, Fig. 5, parallel with the 9G toy body. They may also be turned down, as shown inlower dotted lines, Fig. 5, to still further compact form.

My invention may be embodied in anv desired figureproperlv mounted to rock, as described, and provided with a body part or appendage to catch the wind current.

The invention is not limited to the precise embodiment thereof described and illustrated herein. 7 n

Claims: 7

1. A wind actuated lawn ornament comprising; in combination, a support in the form of a rod, a toy figure pivotally mounted upon said rod, a" vane extending transversely with respect to the toy figure whereby the pressure of the wind intercepted by the vane rocks the toy figure about its pivoted connection with the rod, and stop means extending laterally from the toy figure at opposite sides of the rod to limit the rocking movement of said toy figure in two directions. 7

2. A wind actuatedlawn ornamentcomprising, in combination, a support, a toy figure pivotally mounted upon saidsupport, a vane extending transversely with respect to the toy figure whereby the pressure of the wind intercepted by the vane rocks the toy figure about .it'spivot-ed connection with the support, and a counterweight member pivoted to the toy figure and adjustable relative thereto whereby the normal position of the toy figure may be varied with relation to the support. 7 o 7 3; A wind actuated lawn ornament comprising, in combination a support in the form of a rod, a toy figure pivoted to one end of said rod,a counterweight member adjustably connected to the toy figure whereby the normal position of the toy figure may be varied in relation to the rod, stop means CZIII'lEd. by the toy figure and cooperating with the rod to limit the rocking movement of the toy figure relativeto the support and a vane extending laterally from the counterweight member whereby the pressure of the wind intercepted by the vane rocks the toy figure about its connection with the rod.

4. A wind actuated lawn ornament comprising, in combination, a support in the form of a rod, a toy figure pivoted to one end of said rod, a counterweight memberadjustably connected to the toy figure whereby the normal position of the toy figure may be varied'in relation to the rod, stop means carried by the toy figureand cooperating with the rod to limit the rocking movement of the toy figure relative to the support and a vane extending laterally from the counterweight member, whereby the pressure of the wind intercepted by the vane rocks the toy figure about its connection with the rod, and an anchoring device havinga socket receiving the other end of the rod.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES E. HUDSON. 

